Friday, August 30, 2013

A bakery that has been in Somerville for more than 125 years, and once had a total of three locations, will soon be back to just one as its shop in Cambridge is going to be shutting down.

Eater Boston is reporting (via the bakery's Facebook page) that the outlet of Lyndell's in Central Square will be closing because it was unable to renew its lease. As EB mentions, there has been talk that an outlet of Tasty Burger may be coming to the Prospect Street space, though this has not yet been confirmed. The original location of Lyndell's in Somerville's Ball Square neighborhood will remain open. (It is not yet known when Lyndell's will be closing its Cambridge shop; as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.)

[September 3 update: Based on a Twitter post as well as a Chowhound post, Lyndell's in Cambridge's Central Square is now closed.]

Lyndell's also had a location in the North End of Boston, which closed in June of 2011.

The address for Lyndell's in Central Square is 74 Prospect Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139. The website for the bakery can be found at http://lyndells.com/

It looks like a new takeout spot is coming to the Financial District of Boston.

According to a job post on the Craigslist site, Flame Cafe is planning to open on Oliver Street, with the post mentioning that the eatery will be a new "Gyros place." The spot has a website, though it is currently under construction.

There doesn't appear to be a specific opening date for Flame Cafe at this point in time; as soon as we find out when it might open, we will post an update here.

[October 4 update: According to its website, Flame Cafe is now open.]

The address for this new takeout place in the Financial District is: Flame Cafe, 2 Oliver Street, Boston, MA, 02109. Its website is at http://flamecafeofboston.com/

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

According to Patrick M. of the Server Not Servant blog, Rosso B. is going to be opening by the corner of Blackstone Street and Hanover Street (near Haymarket and Faneuil Hall), with a sign out front saying "Italian Pizza to Go." No other information has been given on the place--and its website is under construction--so keep checking back for updates.

Another sign out front says that Rosso B. plans to open on September 1.

[January 22, 2015 update: According to UrbanDaddy, Rosso B. has finally opened, with such options as egg-topped spinach pizza, bechamel-ham arancini, fettuccine carbonara, and truffle-oil risotto offered on the menu.]

The address for this new eatery in Boston is: Rosso B., 120 Blackstone Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website is at http://rossob.us/

A Mexican restaurant that opened a couple of years ago on the North Shore is going to be moving, and when it reopens, it will have a new name--and one that may be familiar to some.

A press release sent today indicates that Red Lulu in Salem will close its doors at 94 Lafayette Street on October 31, reopening on nearby Washington Street this winter as Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar, which is the same name as Red Lulu's sister restaurant on Dartmouth Street in Boston's Back Bay. The new dining spot will have seating for 110 (plus 40 more seats on an outdoor patio) and will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, along with a weekend brunch.

[October 30 update: Red Lulu posted on its Facebook page today that the restaurant has already closed, with another update on its reopening coming soon.]

Red Lulu first opened in Salem in October of 2011, while Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar first opened in the Back Bay in December of 2010.

A food truck event is returning to the area in September, and this year, more than 20 trucks will be participating.

On Saturday, September 21 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, the 2nd Annual Charles River Food Truck Festival will take place at Artesani Herter Park in Brighton, with the 23-truck lineup including The Bacon Truck, Bon Me, Lobsta Love, Mei Mei Street Kitchen, Munchies Food Truck, Taco Party, Trolley Dogs, and many others. In addition to the food trucks, there will also be sampling tables, live entertainment, and children's activities at the event.

Tickets to the Charles River Food Truck Festival cost $7 online ($10 at the festival), with $1 of the $10 price benefiting the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. For more information, please go to the link below:

It appears that a new diner will be opening in Waltham, moving into the space where a breakfast and lunch spot had been before moving to another location in the city.

Based on a Facebook photo that was sent to us via a Twitter post from @DowntownWaltham, Bliss Diner is planning to open in the former In a Pickle spot on Main Street. (In a Pickle now resides on Moody Street, having moved in the spring.) Little information is currently known on this upcoming eatery, though it looks like the place could be opening sometime this fall.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

A new Asian dining spot has opened in the Chinatown section of Boston, moving into the space where one of the city's most highly-regarded Chinese restaurants used to be.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Clay Pot Cafe is now open in the former King Fung Garden space on Kneeland Street, with the eatery featuring hot pot and clay pot rice dishes. A check on the Yelp site confirms their opening, with one poster saying that the cuisine here is apparently similar to Hong Kong street food, while the Chowhound poster mentions the food is what you might find in Taishan, a city near Hong Kong.

King Fung Garden was a landmark restaurant that was open from 1995 to 2008, reopening with the same name (but under different ownership) in late 2008 before closing again. The owners of the original King Fung Garden currently own King Fung Garden II in Brookline as well as China King in Chinatown.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Last fall we reported that New York-based celebrity chef, restaurateur, writer, and TV personality Mario Batali was planning to open Babbo Pizzeria and Enoteca on Summer Street in the Fort Point section of Boston. Earlier today, however, the opening of the eatery appeared to be in question after Batali posted a note on his Twitter page saying that things were "not looking good right now," and now we have confirmed that the plans have indeed fallen through.

According to a post on the chef's Tumblr page, Babbo "will not come to fruition," though Boston may apparently still in Batali's sights, as his restaurant group "will continue to look for the perfect location to serve the exciting and vibrant Boston community." For now, though, there will be no Babbo--or any other dining spot from Batali--in the area for the foreseeable future.

[August 28 update: The Boston Globe is reporting that Babbo in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood may have fallen through because of Mario Batali and the landlord (Lincoln Property) not being able to agree on a lease. The disagreement was apparently due to Batali's plan to have a wood-burning oven in the restaurant, with a "potentially costly system" that would be required to vent the smoke from it. (The article says that Lincoln Property did not wish to comment on the issue and Batali was unable to be reached.]

[September 12 update: A quick followup to this--a new article in The Boston Globe mentions that the landlord is now looking for another tenant to open a restaurant in the space where Mario Batali's dining spot had planned to be.]

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a sushi place in Somerville changing over to a ramen spot, an eatery with millions of burger combinations coming to the North Shore, and a dive bar in South Boston apparently closing. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of a riverside restaurant, a blog entry on an Instagram food hashtag now being used, and a photo of mixed grill items from a dining and drinking spot near Logan Airport.

A national chain of supermarkets that features natural and organic foods has announced opening dates for two more Boston-area stores.

According to a Facebook post from the Somerville location of Whole Foods and another post from the Arlington location, the two stores are going to be opening in September, with the Somerville location opening September 4 and the Arlington location opening September 18. Several other Whole Foods locations have opened in and around Boston over recent times, including in Brookline, Charlestown, Melrose, and South Weymouth. (All of the stores took over former locations of Johnnie's Foodmaster.)

The Somerville location of Whole Foods will be at 45 Beacon Street, while the Arlington location will be at 808 Mass. Ave.

The website for the supermarket chain is at http://wholefoodsmarket.com/

Friday, August 23, 2013

The person behind a Mexican restaurant in West Roxbury is planning to open a second location in a neighborhood of Newton.

According to a job post on the Craigslist site, Los Amigos will be opening on Walnut Street in Newtonville, joining the original location which first opened in early 2012 on Centre Street in West Roxbury. Based on the menu at the original spot, expect to see burritos, quesadillas, tacos, guacamole, and more at the new place.

It appears that the new Los Amigos in Newtonville could be opening during the second week of September.

[December 2 update: The new Los Amigos in Newtonville has not yet opened, but a new job post on the Craigslist site indicates that it is opening "very soon." (A Twitter post from the restaurant also implies that the new location is very close to opening.)]

[December 12 update: Eater Boston states that the new Los Amigos in Newtonville is now open.]

The address for this upcoming Mexican restaurant is: Los Amigos, 324 Walnut Street, Newton, MA, 02460. The website for the original location can be found at http://www.amigosburritos.com/ while the new spot's Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/amigosburritosnewton

One of two local sushi spots with the same name has just changed its name and menu, and will now focus more on another very popular food item.

Eater Boston is reporting that Snappy Sushi in Somerville's Davis Square is now called Snappy Ramen, with a menu picture showing five ramen options (including spicy miso and cold ramen) as well as sushi, small bites, and beer. The article says that the Boston location of the eatery will remain Snappy Sushi, though the Back Bay spot does have ramen options on its menu now as well.

The person behind Snappy Ramen and Snappy Sushi also owns Yakitori Zai, a restaurant in the South End of Boston that is currently closed for renovations; it will apparently reopen around the end of the month with more of a focus on ramen as well.

The address for Snappy Ramen in Davis Square is: Snappy Ramen, 420 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02144. The website for the Somerville and Boston restaurants can be found at http://www.snappysushi.com/

It looks like the folks behind a restaurant in Malden are opening a dining spot with the same name in Somerville, though it is not yet known whether this is a move or a second location.

According to posters on the Chowhound site (and confirmed by the City of Somerville), Moroccan Hospitality Restaurant is planning to open on Somerville Avenue, moving into the space where Razzy's bar used to be. One of the Chowhound posters says that there is still paper on the windows, though the awning now shows the name of the place. No other information has been given, so keep checking back for updates.

The original location of the eatery is on Salem Street east of Malden Center. [ED NOTE: It looks like the Malden location is now closed.]

The address for this new spot in Somerville is: Moroccan Hospitality Restaurant, 585 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. The Facebook page for the Malden location can be found at ‎https://www.facebook.com/moroccanhospitality

Thursday, August 22, 2013

It looks like a Japanese restaurant in a northern suburb of Boston is shutting its doors.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, Sushi Island in Wakefield is closing, with an article in the Wakefield Patch confirming this, saying that Sunday is its last day in operation. The Patch article mentions that the Main Street eatery will be replaced by a new Asian spot called Sakura Organic, and that the Sushi Island owners "will likely pursue other restaurant opportunities," possibly a smaller dining spot, based on what the Chowhound poster says.

[January 2, 2014 update: According to the restaurant's website, Sakura Organic is now open, and it looks to be an upscale Asian spot that tends to lean toward Japanese fare. Its website can be found at http://jingyang-portfolio.com/sakura/]

Sushi Island has been in business for approximately 15 years.

The address for Sushi Island (and the new Sakura Organic) is 397 Main Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880.

It looks like a new coffee place is coming to Jamaica Plain, and the person behind it also happens to own a coffee spot in Brookline.

Universal Hub is reporting that Maks Milstein, who runs Cafe Fixe in Washington Square, is planning to open 7 Pond Coffee Bar near where Pond Street and Centre Street meet. The Boston Licensing Board will be looking into plans for the high-end coffee spot next Wednesday.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A Florida-based chain of burger places is going to be opening its first New England location in a suburb north of Boston.

A Twitter post from North Shore Dish indicates (via the Swampscott Patch) that Cheeburger Cheeburger plans to open in Swampscott, with the eatery moving into the space in Vinnin Square where City Bar & Grill used to be. Once it opens (possibly in the winter), expect to see 20-ounce burgers--as well as smaller sizes--along with fries, salads, wraps, hot dogs, shakes, and more.

[May 19, 2014 update: According to a new article in the Swampscott Patch, Cheeburger Cheeburger is now open.]

The menu for Cheeburger Cheeburger shows more than 8 million burger combinations and more than 1 million flavor combinations for its shakes.

The address for this new burger spot in Swampscott is: Cheeburger Cheeburger, 435 Paradise Road, Swampscott, MA, 01907. The website for the chain can be found at http://cheeburger.com/

A local chain of Italian dining spots is getting ready to close one of its original locations.

According to a poster on the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook page (and confirmed via a press release sent today), Bertucci's in the Harvard Square section of Cambridge will be closing at the end of business hours today after being in business since 1988, with the release saying that the landlord decided to go with another retailer for the Brattle Street space even though the chain was willing to renovate or make changes to the concept in order to keep the place open. The press release states that every staff member at the Harvard Square restaurant has been placed or offered positions with other locations of the chain, and that other shops will remain open, including two others in Cambridge (Kendall Square and Alewife).

Bertucci's first started out in 1981 and currently has more than 90 locations in 10 states as well as Washington, DC. The restaurants focus on brick-oven pizza and Italian dishes.

The address for the Bertucci's in Harvard Square is 21 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. The website for the chain can be found at http://www.bertuccis.com/

It looks like a dive bar in South Boston that was once featured on a popular food/travel show is closing its doors.

According to a Boston Licensing Board page, the Quencher Tavern on I Street is seeking to transfer its liquor license to the Painted Burro, which is going to be opening a new location on Temple Place in Boston's Downtown Crossing area. The Quencher Tavern was one of several spots in South Boston that Anthony Bourdain visited in 2011 for No Reservations, a show on the Travel Channel that ended last year. A few other places that Bourdain went to in Southie included Rondo's Sub Shop, Murphy's Law, the Galley Diner, and the L Street Tavern.

As soon as we confirm that the bar will be closing its doors, we will post an update here.

[August 22 update: It has now been confirmed that the Painted Burro has indeed purchased the liquor license from the Quencher Tavern, and one poster on Twitter says that the bar may be closing around November. (More updates will be posted as soon as we get them.)]

[November 11 update: The Caught in Southie site states (as do a number of folks on Twitter) that the Quencher Tavern had a "farewell" block party outside the bar yesterday.]

[November 12 update: We have now learned that contrary to all the reports over the weekend, the Quencher Tavern's farewell party was not actually its farewell, and that it will be open for approximately two more weeks. Thanks to one of our sources (who is a Boston-area chef and lives in the neighborhood) for bringing this to our attention.]

[November 27 update: South Boston Today reports that the Quencher Tavern closes its doors for good tonight (and this has been confirmed by folks on Facebook yesterday and today.]

The address for the Quencher Tavern is 170 I Street, Boston, MA, 02127.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

It looks like a nightclub in the heart of Boston is changing its name, though it is not known at this point in time whether any other changes might be coming to the place.

Eater Boston is reporting (via a Boston Licensing Board page) that the group behind Gypsy Bar on Boylston Street is requesting a name change to Whisky Saigon, with the request being looked at by the City of Boston tomorrow. An update from EB mentions that a rep for the club says it is "too soon to chat about the name change," though that could change after tomorrow's hearing (keep checking back for updates).

[November 8 update: The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog mentions that Gypsy Bar will reopen as Whisky Saigon on Saturday, November 16, with the spot featuring "surround sound and state of the art special effects." It looks like the renamed nightclub will have a modern and luxurious feel to it, with an "ideal balance of form and function wrapped in feminine international beauty."]

Gypsy Bar was once awarded "best pickup bar" by Boston Magazine, with the Improper Bostonian calling it the city's best dance club in 2010, according to the bar's website.

The address for Gypsy Bar is 116 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02108. Its website can be found at http://www.gypsybarboston.com/

Another new food truck is on its way to Boston, and this one will focus on Asian comfort food.

Eater Boston is reporting (via WGBH) that Moyzilla is getting ready to hit the streets of the city, with the truck focusing on dumplings and yakitori. The Facebook and Twitter pages for the food truck indicate that they will be launching sometime this fall, though no specific date has been given as of yet. (Their Facebook page does say that Moyzilla will be at various festivals in the Boston area between now and its official debut.)

[January 16, 2014 update: It looks like the Moyzilla food truck will be up and running this spring, as a new article from Eater Boston mentions that the truck got "some great spots" on the Rose Kennedy Greenway in this week's lottery for food truck spots for 2014.]

The Facebook page for Moyzilla can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Moyzilla, while the Twitter page is at https://twitter.com/MoyzillaTruck.

A Licensing Board page from the City of Boston website indicates that Sofa Cafe is planning to open on Newbury Street, with a Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay page mentioning that the place will be a coffee shop/cafe under a pet supply boutique, and that it will have seating for 10 with soups, sandwiches, and pastries offered. In addition, the Licensing Board page shows that the place could be open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.

As soon as we have more information on Sofa Cafe (including when it might open), we will post an update here.

[April 4, 2014 update: Eater Boston is reporting that Sofa Cafe is now open, with the place being part of a chain of Brazilian coffee shops (Boston is its first location to open in the United States). Hours for the cafe are 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.]

The address for this new cafe in the Back Bay is: Sofa Cafe, 217 Newbury Street, Boston, MA, 02116. Its website can be found at http://sofacafeusa.com/

It looks like a farm-to-table restaurant could be on its way to West Concord, opening in the space where a supermarket had been for nearly a century.

The Concord Journal is reporting that Kristin and Jim Canty are planning to open a dining spot at the site of the former West Concord Supermarket, with the proposed eatery using ingredients from "as many local farms as it can" and having 156 seats inside the place, with 20 more seats on an outdoor deck. The article mentions that plans for the dining spot have been submitted to the town, with the Cantys appearing before the Concord Planning Board in September to continue discussing the plans.

The address for this proposed restaurant in West Concord is 24 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA, 01742.

[Ed note: This article was updated on August 23 to reflect a location given for the place.]

Last month we reported that a local group of dining and drinking establishments was going to be opening a tiny, free-standing spot at South Station in Boston. Now we have learned that they are planning to open in the North Station area as well.

In an article on Tavern in the Square's upcoming opening in Northborough, The Northborough-Southborough Villager mentions that the chain is planning to open spots at both South Station and North Station. No other information is given on the possible North Station location, so keep checking back for updates.

[August 23 update: Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog is reporting (via PR Web/SFGate) that the new Tavern in the Square will be located in The Victor, a new luxury apartment complex across from TD Garden. Unlike the upcoming location at South Station, this will be full-sized, with 5,600 square feet of space and a patio with 88 seats. The Boston Licensing Board will have a hearing next Wednesday to look into a proposed liquor license transfer from the now-closed Vapiano in the Theatre District to Tavern in the Square, according to the blog entry.]

[September 9, 2014 update: Eater Boston mentions that the new Tavern in the Square at North Station is now open.]

Tavern in the Square has locations in Cambridge's Central Square and Porter Square along with Allston, Burlington, and Salem, with Union Street in Newton Centre also being owned by the group. The website can be found at http://www.taverninthesquare.com/

An Italian restaurant just north of Boston is going to be closing, though it may be moving to a new location...again.

According to a source (@mikefn on Twitter), Massimo's Ristorante in Malden is going to be shutting its doors after being in business at its current Pleasant Street location for approximately seven years. The dining spot had been in Everett previously, so if the restaurant does indeed open in a new space, this would be its second move.

There is no specific information on where Massimo's might move to, though our source says it is possible that the place could move back to Everett or possibly Revere (keep checking back for updates).

[August 25 update: A new post from @mikefn indicates that although the restaurant was possibly looking at closing this weekend, it will now apparently be open for another 30-45 days due to liquor license delays for the new owner.]

[September 11 update: Massimo's is reopening in Wakefield.]

The address for this soon-to-close/move Italian eatery in Malden is: Massimo's Ristorante, 157 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA, 02148. Its website can be found at http://massimositalian.com/

Monday, August 19, 2013

Several more stories and articles focusing on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a top spot for bar pizza apparently closing, a popular burger place possibly opening in downtown Boston, and a food crawl coming to Somerville. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included a new review of a restaurant and bar in East Boston, an update on closings and openings in the region, and a photo of a pasta dish from an Italian restaurant west of the city.

A new food truck is on its way to Boston, and it will be focusing on one of America's most beloved foods.

According to its Facebook and Twitter pages, The Bacon Truck will soon be up and running, apparently debuting at some point at the SoWa Open Market in Boston's South End. The mobile kitchen will offer salads, sandwiches, side dishes, and desserts, and the folks behind it will also be doing catering as well. A Twitter post from last month shows a stripped-down version of the truck that will be hitting the streets, while a Facebook post shows that they have acquired a health permit and will be opening "real soon."

[August 20 update: A new post from their Facebook page indicates that The Bacon Truck may be planning to debut in the fall.]

[August 22 update: The Restaurant Hub blog for The Boston Globe shows some of what will be on the The Bacon Truck's menu, including a turkey club, grilled cheese with bacon, a BLT with avocado, habanero garlic pickles, hand-made potato chips, and Nutella-covered bacon.]

[September 16 update: According to a new post on their Facebook page, The Bacon Truck had their SoWa debut yesterday.]

The Twitter page for The Bacon Truck is at @BaconTruckBOS while the Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/BaconTruckBOS

It looks like a new bistro and market that features international fare is going to be opening in Belmont.

The Belmont Citizen-Herald reports that The Loading Dock will open on Brighton Street, moving into the space on the Cambridge line where Nicolas Market & Deli and Zeff Photo Supply used to be. The article mentions that the spot will be a place where folks can dine or shop, and that catering will also be available as well. Expect The Loading Dock to open sometime later this year.

The address for this upcoming restaurant and market in Belmont is: The Loading Dock, 11 Brighton Street, Belmont, MA, 02478.

[Ed note: This article was updated on August 20 to reflect the fact that the town has indeed shut down the restaurant.]

An Italian restaurant in Arlington Center has allegedly been abandoned, leading the town to look into shutting down the spot.

The Arlington Advocate is reporting that Scugnizzi on Mass. Ave. is currently operating without its owner and manager, with the owner apparently moving to Mexico without transferring the dining spot to a successor (a requirement for common victualler and wine and malt license holders). The article also says that the owner of the eatery has allegedly been "skirting" rent payments for the past four months. A Board of Selectmen meeting will take place tonight to discuss the possibility of closing the place down.

[August 20 update: Eater Boston mentions that the Arlington Board of Selectmen voted last night to revoke Scugnizzi's licenses, effectively closing the restaurant down, though it appears that the landlord had already shuttered the place and changed the locks.]

A new restaurant is on its way to the Wollaston neighborhood of Quincy, and it will apparently feature both Chinese food and pub grub.

According to its Facebook page, The China Restaurant and Sports Bar is getting ready to open on Hancock Street, with a note on the page saying that it will be "coming soon." Based on an earlier article in the Patriot Ledger, it looks like the folks behind the Golden China Restaurant and Sports Bar in Canton are behind the upcoming spot, which, if true, would indicate that the menu at the new restaurant may feature a mix of Chinese fare, pizza, and bar food.

[December 9 update: A poster on the Chowhound site mentions that The China Restaurant and Sports Bar has opened.]

The address for this new dining and drinking establishment in Wollaston is: The China Restaurant and Sports Bar, 685 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA, 02170. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/TheChinaRestaurantSportsBar

Thanks to a poster on the Chowhound site for bringing this to our attention.

A market and deli in Brookline that is known in part for its sandwiches and pizza is currently closed for renovations, and it is not known what might be happening to the place.

According to a poster on the Chowhound site, the Brookline Spa on Harvard Street is shuttered, with a sign out front saying it is closed for renovations (their website also says it is closed for "renovations and updates." A Yelp poster says that the word on the street is it will not be reopening--and that Groupon is offering refunds for the spot--but we have not yet been able to confirm this.

[February 19, 2014 update: The Yelp page for the Brookline Spa says that it will reopen on February 28, while the market's Facebook page has a banner saying that "the new Spa returns in 2014." There is currently no word on what renovations/changes are coming, so stay tuned for updates. (Thanks to @BostonTweet for letting us know about the progress being made to the place.]

The Brookline Spa has been in operation for nearly 20 years, offering such items as salads, sandwiches, pizza, pasta dishes, and breakfast items.

The address for this market and deli in Brookline is: Brookline Spa, 75 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02445. Its website can be found at http://www.thebrooklinespa.com/

Sunday, August 18, 2013

A dining spot in Boston's South End is shutting its doors after being in business for nearly 20 years.

A Twitter message sent from BosGuy--along with a post from the site--indicates that Francesca's Cafe on Tremont Street is closing, with the message mentioning that the place's last day in operation was Sunday. Francesca's was a casual spot that featured items such as soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, ice cream, coffee, and tea, along with some breakfast items.

There is no word at this point on whether Francesca's Cafe might open in another location, according to BosGuy.

The address for this now-closed eatery in the South End was: Francesca's Cafe, 564 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

Boston Restaurant Week has started up once again, with the summer 2013 version going through most of the rest of the month.

Starting today (Sunday, August 18) and running through Friday, August 23, then starting up again on Sunday, August 25 and finishing up on Friday, August 30, a number of dining spots in the Greater Boston area will offer prix fixe menus for RW, with two-course lunches being $15.13, three-course lunches being $20.13, and three-course dinners being $38.13. (Prices are per person and do not include drinks, tax, or tips.) Diners do not need passes, tickets or coupons--they simply visit the participating spots that they want to go to, though reservations are encouraged.

If you would like more information on the summer 2013 version of Boston Restaurant Week, please go to the links below:

Friday, August 16, 2013

It looks like a neighborhood watering hole in Quincy that was known for having one of the best bar pizzas in the region has closed its doors.

According to a couple of different sources, the Alumni Cafe on Hancock Street in the Wollaston section of the city shuttered this week after several decades in business. A phone call placed to the dive bar went unanswered during the day yesterday, and one message sent to us indicates that it may have shut down on Wednesday night.

[August 18 update: A check on the Alumni Cafe space indicates that there are "Closed for Renovations" signs on the doors (see Instagram photo here), though sources continue to say that the place has shuttered for good.]

The Alumni has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) as a place to go for bar pies, with the pizza there being considered at about the same level as that of the Lynwood Cafe in Randolph (often considered the best spot for bar pizza). The review can be found below:

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

It looks like an Italian restaurant in South Boston has closed after being in business for a very short period of time.

A check on Sauce Trattoria on L Street this evening indicates that it is not open for business, with a phone call to the spot going unanswered, and a check on its website showing that it has been taken down. This seems to confirm what a Chowhound poster said today--that the restaurant has apparently shut down. Sauce had only been open since the spring, taking over the space where Wolfie's Kitchen And Bar had been for two years, and before that, Kelly's Landing.

The address for this now-closed dining spot in South Boston was: Sauce Trattoria, 81 L Street, South Boston, MA, 02127.

A Lexington shop that featured French-style macarons has closed its doors.

According to its website, Macaron Sweeterie on Massachusetts Avenue has shuttered after being in business for approximately two years, with a note on its website saying that "It has been a great journey, and we cannot possibly express enough how much we have enjoyed getting to know everyone. However, our decision for closing is due to us moving onto our next adventure!" A footnote at the bottom of the page says "If you're interested to see what we are up to next, stay tuned for the link on our Macaron Sweeterie website." It is not yet known what these plans may be, so keep checking back for updates.

In addition to selling macaron pastries, Macaron Sweeterie also featured artisan chocolates and espresso.

The address for this now-closed shop in Lexington was: Macaron Sweeterie, 848 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA, 02420. Its website can be found at http://www.macaronsweeterie.com/

It looks like a New York-based burger stand *may* be opening a new shop in the heart of downtown Boston, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.

Eater Boston is reporting that Shake Shack could possibly be on its way to Faneuil Hall, with a "reliable tipster" saying that "The lease isn't signed yet, but it's reportedly in the works." A second EB tipster, however, "has nothing concrete to share" and that "rumors often circulate about new Shake Shack locations."

For now, burger lovers in the Faneuil Hall area will have to wait, but as soon as we hear any kind of confirmation on this, we will post an update here.

Shake Shack currently has one location in the Boston area--in Chestnut Hill--with another soon opening in Cambridge's Harvard Square. Its website can be found at http://www.shakeshack.com/

A popular seafood spot along Fort Point Channel on the Boston waterfront is making some changes, and it could be due at least in part to the new general manager of the place.

The Restaurant Hub blog of the Boston Globe is reporting that the Barking Crab has added a raw bar to the restaurant and is also reducing its menu by half, with the focus now being on seafood found in the local area, including Cape Cod clams, Maine lobster, Rhode Island squid, and Atlantic scrod. The article mentions that $1 oysters will be offered at the raw bar, and local beers will be available as well, including those from the nearby Harpoon Brewery. The new general manager--Ben Korman--could be behind at least some of these changes, with Korman coming from Jasper White's Summer Shack, according to the blog.

The address for the Barking Crab is: Barking Crab, 88 Sleeper Street, Boston MA, 02210. Its website can be found at http://www.barkingcrab.com/

A culinary event is on its way to East Somerville in September, and a number of neighborhood restaurants will be participating.

On Tuesday, September 10, the East Broadway Foodie Crawl will take place starting at 5:45 PM, with guests being able to enjoy food from 15 dining spots, including East End Grille, Fasika, Vinny's, and many others. Entertainment will be included, with parties taking place at the end of the crawl.

Tickets to the East Broadway Foodie Crawl cost $20 online ($25 at the event if there are any left), with proceeds going to the nonprofit organization East Somerville Main Streets. For more information, please go to the link below:

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

A local chain of restaurants that features burritos is getting ready to open a new shop, with this one being in an upcoming open-air retail center north of Boston.

According to its Twitter page, Boloco is opening in at MarketStreet Lynnfield, making this the first location in the northern suburbs of Boston (their Medford location closed this spring). It appears that the new store could be opening very soon, as the new development--which is located near the intersection of Routes 128/95 and Walnut Street--is preparing to open. A few other dining spots that plan to open at MarketStreet Lynnfield include Davio's, Fugakyu, Kings, Legal C Bar, Otto Pizza, Wagamama, and the Yard House.

[September 12 update: According to a Facebook post from MarketStreet Lynnfield, the new Boloco is now open there.]

In addition to its signature burritos, Boloco also offers such items as salads, wraps, shakes, and smoothies. Locations of the chain can be found in Boston, Brighton, Cambridge, Natick, Wellesley, Warwick, RI, Concord, NH, Hanover, NH, Burlington, VT, Bethesda, MD, and Washington, DC. Their website is at http://boloco.com/, while the Twitter page for the new location is at @BolocoLynnfield.

About Me

I am a writer, editor, and photographer from Boston, MA, who works in the field of publishing. I have founded two Web sites: Travel Guide of America and Boston's Hidden Restaurants, the latter of which is on track to attract more 1 million people annually. This blog, which is more news-based and also is seen by more than 1 million people each year, is an offshoot of Boston's Hidden Restaurants, which contains a separate blog within the site. I also have a blog called Boston Restaurant Talk, which is an offshoot of the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site. To get in touch, either email at hiddenboston@yahoo.com or go to the Boston's Hidden Restaurants contact page at http://hiddenboston.com/contactus.html